Qualification Accredited A LEVEL Candidate style answers ANCIENT HISTORY H407 For first teaching in 2017 Component Group 2: H407/21–H407/23 Version 1 www.ocr.org.uk/alevelancienthistory A Level Ancient History Candidate style answers Contents Introduction 3 Period study essay questions 4 Interpretation question 12 Source utility questions 18 H407/23 – Question 4 19 Depth study essays 25 H407/21 – Questions 5 and 6 26 H407/23 – Questions 5 and 6 35 2 © OCR 2019 A Level Ancient History Candidate style answers Introduction OCR has produced this resource to support teachers in interpreting the assessment criteria for the new A Level Ancient History specific tion and to bridge the gap between new specific tion’s release and the availability of exemplar candidate work following first xamination in summer 2019. The questions in this resource have been taken from the H407/21–H407/23 specimen question papers, which is available on the OCR website. The answers in this resource have been written by students in Year 12 and Year 13. They are supported by an examiner commentary. Please note that this resource is provided for advice and guidance only and does not in any way constitute an indication of grade boundaries or endorsed answers. Whilst a senior examiner has provided a possible mark for each response, when marking these answers in a live series the mark a response would get depends on the whole process of standardisation, which considers the big picture of the year’s scripts. Therefore the marks awarded here should be considered to be only an estimation of what would be awarded. How levels and marks correspond to grade boundaries depends on the Awarding process that happens after all/most of the scripts are marked and depends on a number of factors, including candidate performance across the board. Details of this process can be found here: http://ocr.org.uk/Images/142042-marking-and-grading-assuring-ocr-s-accuracy.pdf 3 © OCR 2019 A Level Ancient History Candidate style answers Period study essay questions 1. To what extent was there discontent with the emperors during this period? You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own knowledge to support your answer. [30] OR 2. How important a role did imperial women play during the reigns of Claudius and Nero? You must use and analyse the ancient sources you have studied as well as your own knowledge to support your answer. [30] Example 1 There are signs of discontent with the emperors throughout the period, whether from one people, the aristocracy or both, although the sources own perceptions can colour the extent to which this was a big problem or not. Augustus faced discontent as he was at the start of a new system, and although the senate voted them all his honours and powers, there are allusions in the sources to discontent. Paterculus tells of the aedile Rufus’ conspiracy against Augustus around the time of the 2nd settlement in 23 BC, as Augustus was gaining new powers, yet Rufus was also gaining popular support. Although this suggests opposition against Augustus, it’s not clear if this was due to discontent or just a desire to gain power, and the fact that Augustus reigned for 40 years suggests that feelings of discontent weren’t too strong, otherwise action would have been taken against him. Thus opposition may have also been due to discontent with the new system, rather than discontent with Augustus himself. With Gaius’ reign from 37 to 41 AD, the sources provide opposing aspects of discontent, as the people enjoyed Gaius’ displays and spectacles, while the senate became discontent with their increasingly humiliating treatment at the hands of Gaius. This discontent is clearly evident in the fact that Gaius was assassinated by the senate, who according to Dio killed Gaius, his wife and child. Here, there is definitely discontent with Gaius from the senate, however the murder of his child also suggests a desire to end the imperial system, or at least to end the Julio-Claudian line. This discontent therefore may also have been with the system, although it seems that a lot of it may have come from Gaius’ direct provocation. Even with this discontent within the aristocracy of Rome, we get a contrasting view from Suetonius, who tells us that the people were upset at the news of Caligula’s death. As son of the beloved war hero Germanicus, Caligula had been welcomed to power by the people and the armies, and had remained popular with the people. From Suetonius we get the sense that the people were not discontent with the emperor, showing how different groups in society’s desires may conflict, leading to discontent for one and happiness for another. During Claudius’ reign, we get a sense that there may have been some discontent from the people, as Suetonius tells us 4 © OCR 2019 A Level Ancient History Candidate style answers how Claudius was “pelted with abuse” during a food shortage. Here we see how the people could become discontent with emperors during a crisis, as a figurehead who had failed to solve their problems sooner rather than discontent with the emperor himself. Also, as Suetonius’ biography lack chronology, it is unclear if these facts occurred before or after Claudius’ construction of the harbour at Ostia, his attempt to improve the efficiency of importing grain, so it could be that it was due to this discontent that Claudius sought to build the harbour and the people were pleased, or after they had been disappointed. The sources tell us plenty about discontent during Nero’s reign, whether disapproval of his behaviour, opposition in the senate or poor popular opinion, there appears to have been a lot of discontent towards Nero. We are told by Tacitus of Thraesea Pactus’ discontent upon hearing of Agrippina’s murder, as he walked out of the senate. Although Tacitus says it was “his independence made others servile”, the fact no others left with him suggest that not all of the senate may have felt discontent or at least were not united in it. However, this discontent is also hinted at again by Tacitus as he recounts the Piso conspiracy of 65 AD, in which several knights, senators and even the poet Lucan were implicated in a plot to overthrow Nero. Here we see a unification in discontent, and the fact that Tacitus says there were plans to put another “on the throne” suggests that it was personal discontent with the emperor, not just the system, although Tacitus here could also be showing his disgust at the “weak” senators who gave in to imperial rule, as he was a senator who had experienced the “reign of terror” under Domitian. This discontent is also echoed within Tacitus’ account of the fire in Rome in 64 AD, as he says how the people were not affected by his attempts to improve living conditions after the fire, or even when he opened his garden to survivers. His construction of the ostentatious Domus Aurea may have intensified the discontent, as the people who had recently lost their homes may have felt betrayed by their emperor’s huge new palace. Again, this discontent appears to be personally tied with Nero due to his actions, rather than the imperial system. Overall it appears that there definitely was discontent with the emperors of this period, whether with the system like Augustus, or just someone to blame like Claudius or the ultimate discontent with the emperor himself from different groups in society, such as Gaius and Nero. However, as the imperial system remained with most emperors ruling for a reasonable length of time, there doesn’t appear to have been frequent examples of discontent that would affect the overall imperial system. 5 © OCR 2019 A Level Ancient History Candidate style answers Example 2 When looking at the levels of discontent felt towards the emperors it is important not just to consider how strong the issues of discontent were, but also where they came from; the Senate, or the people or both perhaps. A source by Paterculus shows little evidence to believe there was discontent towards Augustus; “fields were cultivated, religious rites conserved, then felt safe at last.” Indeed much of the poetry from Virgil and Horace supports this view, again speaking of how fertile and peaceful Rome now was, and even dubbing it the ‘Golden Age of Latium’. An issue with these sources however is the poets were sometimes employed by Augustus and they may have felt obliged to write in his favour. Also Paterculus, a contemporary source was a huge supporter of Augustus, and may have written strongly in his favour. Though these sources may seem to show no discontent they may be biased and inaccurate views. Indeed a source by biographer Suetonius details the many conspiracy attempts on Augustus’ life. These do seem to come from men from “all walks of life”; some senators, and the son of an ex-truimvir seeking revenge for his father. There were also attacks from a camp orderly, and Telaphonus the slave. The fact that these attacks came from a wide range of classes perhaps could suggest a great level of discontent that spread through all of Rome. However, the son of the triumvir wanted revenge, which was a personal issue more than an issue with Augustus’ rule. And Suetonius describes the slave as being deluded; so it wasn’t a sane attack on Augustus. Issues like this perhaps shows small levels of discontent, Suetonius also says that all the attempts were prevented before they became serious.